lobster roll question - how many can I get from 1 lobster?

I am thinking about doing lobster rolls for my tailgate party on Saturday. I'm trying to estimate the cost to see if it's feasible. I think here are the questions I'm having trouble with:

Let's assume each lobser weighs between 1 and 1.5 LBs - isn't that aboud normal?

- how much actual meat am I going to get from each lobster?

- how much meat should I plan on for each sandwich?

Right now, I am guessing that I'll roughly get 3 sandwiches from every 2 lobsters - does that sound right? I really have no basis for that, it just feels about right.

Other than Nicole's, is there anywhere to get decent lobster roll buns?

To answer your last question first, no! You could mail order some New England buns but I have never done that, yet.
If using live Maine Lobster at the 1# mark, its about one roll per lobster but at the 1.5# mark its probably three rolls for every two lobsters. This is also dependant on the time of year and at this time of year, some lobsters are still soft from molting and contain less meat. This is really dependant on how generous you want to be and the type of roll you have. A generic soft body hot dog roll just cannot suport a lot of weight unless its confined in a hot dog. Nicole's rolls are at little heavy and can accomodate a nice but not generous amount of lobster.-Dick

Thanks for the info. I may end up cutting the lobster with some crab or langostino to keep the cost down a bit.

I use finely minced celery, QP(Kewpie) mayo and a dash of crystal if you want.
I would not cut the lobster.-Dick

I belong to the toasted buttered roll, a little butter (and a little squeezed lemon and chive) school, no mayo or celery, although I enjoy both. But I agree that I wouldn't cut the lobster - make smaller rolls instead. I've had them cut with crab, shrimp etc. and to me that's no longer a lobster roll. On the plus side, it's been a really long time since lobster has been as cheap as it is now so you could probably buy 2 lbs. of lobster now for 1/2 of what it would have cost you a year or two ago.

BTW HMart in Niles usually have live lobsters for $6/lb... I bought 6 lobsters averaging around 1.25lb each over Labor Day weekend!

BigT wrote:Right now, I am guessing that I'll roughly get 3 sandwiches from every 2 lobsters - does that sound right? I really have no basis for that, it just feels about right.

Yes that is about right. Don't adulterate the lobster. Offer some side salads or blueberry pie for dessert.

CrazyC wrote:BTW HMart in Niles usually have live lobsters for $6/lb... I bought 6 lobsters averaging around 1.25lb each over Labor Day weekend!

currently $5.98lb at H Mart Niles.

Agree with the other posters, do NOT cut the lobster, it is too cheap currently to consider doing this and your outcome won't be as good as pure lobster IMO.

IMO, a 1.25# lobster should be two lobster roll sandwiches.

You guys are killing me with these lobster prices. I live in Ann Arbor (my brother is coming to town from Chicago, hence the question about Nicoles) and the cheapest I have been able to find them is $13 per LB. Neither Costco nor the asian grocery stores in town carry live lobsters.

Prices don't make *any* sense! I just bought two dozen Malpeque (from PEI) oysters for $8Canadian, which is about $8US. This is the fifth or sixth time since New Year's Day that I've done this. And lobsters! Sheesh. At least half a dozen times in the same period I've gotten Maine/New Brunswick lobsters for $6 a pound.

Fish, on the other hand, is outrageously expensive. Cod at $8, halibut at $12, even haddock at $7. WHAT is going on??

Geo

This is going on. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 19546.html

Really interesting article Steve, thanks for the cite. I know that certain fisheries have been rebuilt lately. The haddock fishery is the poster child:
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/a-rebound-for-6-fish-populations/ Haddock fishers let the scientists go out on their boats, the scientists figured out where the spawning grounds were, and when spawning occurred, and prohibited fishing then and there. Stocks came back within five years. But the cod fishers have so far refused to let the scientists aboard their boats; and the cod fishery continues to decline.

I suspect that climate change is going to have widespread effects, much as it has in the lobster fishery.

Sure enjoyed my 30¢/oyster Malpeaques last night, tho' !

Geo

Sweet Willie wrote:currently $5.98lb at H Mart Niles.

Still the same price. Such a deal. Picked up a bunch at H-Mart Naperville today.

While I was there picked up some super-angry blue crabs at $2.99/lb as well. Those feisty things were a great snack.

I don't know where H Mart gets their lobsters but with the depressed prices in New England, it can't be any different for Canada along with the soft shells and shrunken meat during the summer always lead to lower prces in the summer. We generally avoid purchasing during the summer months unless I get to China Town Market in Chinatown and can get one of the 4-5#'s. Cost is usually about $10/# but the quality is no comparison to those sold by H Mart in the summer.-Dick

I just had a fantastic lobster roll from Luke's Lobster in NY this past Thursday. I agree with others here in that minimalistic is best. The lobster roll at Luke's had nothing but a buttered new england lobster roll bun, a swipe of mayo, loads of fresh lobster, and some seasoning that was probably nothing more than celery salt and pepper.